A farmers’ market founded and run by students at Sutton Bonington Campus has made it into the finals of BBC Radio Four’s Food Awards — just over a year after its launch.

The monthly market is one of three finalists in the Best Food Market category of the national awards scheme.

“I found out we’d been nominated by hearing us mentioned on the Food Programme,” said founder Emily Boothroyd.

“It came as a real surprise as I hadn’t thought we’d have even been in the running being such a new market and not that well known.”

The market has more than doubled in size since it was launched in May 2011, with around 35 local food producers at each event.

“Both past and present organising committees are really delighted that we’ve been shortlisted. They are all full-time students and as you can imagine, a lot of time and effort goes into the planning and execution of every market, so this is well-deserved recognition for all that hard work.”

Judges TV chef Valentine Warner and Kath Dalmeny, from Sustain — the alliance for better food and farming — were impressed when they dropped in last month.

“I was incredibly impressed by the market,” said Valentine. “It was well thought out and offered an impressive variety of produce to the students, some of which I was surprised but delighted to know they were buying.

“Stall-owners were giving student discounts too, it was still worth it for them as the market was supported by so many people. It was very encouraging to see everyone selling out.”

Valentine praised the student organisers as “very organised, very friendly, very forward thinking” and said the market had been chosen as a finalist, not just for its standards, but for the benefits it brings to the local area.

“Markets champion ingredients particular to various region of the country and support local commerce. They often take things hard to find in the city to the city. They are a fun day out as well as a good place to learn more about ingredients.

“We also like the idea of students being given an opportunity to have things that normally they couldn’t afford, while also having an alternative to the supermarket and bad eating which they are commonly associated with.”